Читать книгу How to Amuse Yourself and Others: The American Girl's Handy Book - Adelia B. Beard - Страница 59
ОглавлениеCHAPTER VII.
MIDSUMMER EVE.
IN the minds of most of us, midsummer is associated with dry, dusty roads, parched vegetation, the shrill cry of the locust,[A] the shriller notes of the mosquitoes, and the hum of myriads of other insects; but, girls, midsummer does not come at this time: astronomy fixes the date at June 21st, the longest day of the year, when the leaves are still glossy green with the fresh sap circulating through their veins, giving them that healthy, juicy look so refreshing to the eye, and the heat of the sun has not yet dried to a white powder the firm country roads over which we delight to wander.
Ages ago the Pagans used to celebrate the day with rejoicing, because old Sol’s bright face had broken loose from the clouds of winter, and the rain and mists of spring. They symbolized the revolution of the season by rolling great wooden wheels down the hill-sides; sometimes attaching straw to the outer circle and setting fire to it at night, making a miniature midnight sun as it dashed down the steep incline.
The people also believed that ill-luck rolled away from them with the fiery wheel, and to this day you will see Fortune or Misfortune represented as travelling, like an acrobat at a circus, upon a wheel.
Midsummer-eve Party.
“Ye vertue of a rare cole that is to be found at Midsummer Eve under ye root of plantane and of mugwort Ye effects whereof are wonderful Whosoever weareth or beareth ye same about with them shall be freed from ye plague lightning and all ills”
All the elves, brownies, and fays were supposed to be on hand at midsummer night, and it is this old superstition that Shakespeare has so beautifully illustrated in his “Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
It was on midsummer eve that the supposed invisible seeds of the fern could be gathered which rendered the fortunate possessor invisible whenever he chose to carry them about with him. Among other strange and some quite pretty superstitions, there is a tradition that a coal, found attached to the roots of the mugwort or plantain on midsummer eve, will keep away misfortune and insure good luck to the finder.
The girls of to-day who, although advanced enough to discard the superstitious element, can appreciate the poetic ideas symbolized by these ancient rites, may take hints for the entertainment of themselves and friends from the old belief in the mysteries and charms of midsummer eve.
Games can be invented, and pretty keepsakes and souvenirs exchanged upon this night, that will translate ancient paganism into modern good feeling and fellowship.
The New Fern-leaf Game.
Some one who has charge of the games shows to the assembled girls and boys a fern-leaf, and explains to them the legend connected with it, and the power of the seed to render the possessor invisible. Next she blindfolds them all; then, choosing one from among them, she removes the bandage from the player’s eyes without allowing the others to know who has been selected to be the bearer of the magic fern. After giving the fern-leaf into the keeping of the chosen one, she places the latter in the centre of a ring formed by the rest of the players, who take hold of hands and circle round; then, still holding hands, they forward to the centre and return; letting go hands, they forward again, this time the fern-bearer joins in the ranks. Once more the ring is formed and they circle round, singing these lines:
Round goes the wheel,
Round goes the year,
For woe or for weal,
Midsummer is here.
To the one who finds
The seeds of the fern,
Misfortune and evil
To good luck will turn.
At the word “turn,” each player seizes another and cries out, “fern, fern!” at the same time removing the handkerchief from the eyes.
Magic Plantain.
To the one who really has captured the magic fern a pretty card or silk badge, bearing a pictured fern and some appropriate motto, is given, as a token that the entire company wish all possible good luck to the possessor.
The Plantain Test.
To test fortune in this way, fill a large pan or bowl with clean dry sand; provide as many plantain-plants as there are players, and to the roots of all but one tie, with a narrow ribbon, a bonbon which contains within its wrapper a verse indicating that the wrong plant has been chosen. To the one reserved from the rest attach a small piece of coal, or charcoal, wrapped in a bonbon paper which also encloses a verse describing the magic powers of the coal. Place all of the plants in the sand, making them look as though growing there. All this should be prepared before the party assembles, that no one may know to which plant the coal is fastened.
When the appointed time arrives, explain to the company that to the root of one of the plants in the bowl is fastened a coal which, according to old superstition, will secure to the finder perfect health for life. Then let each person in turn pull from the sand one of the plants. The one who finds the coal should be heartily congratulated, as she is supposed to have gained the good will of fortune and to be exempt from all the ills that flesh is heir to. The plantain is not difficult to secure, as it grows in almost every grass-plot, much to the annoyance of those who take pride in their lawns. Should the name be unfamiliar to some of our readers, the accompanying illustration will help them recognize the weed.
A pretty charm for the watch-chain can be made of the coal which is to bring the finder such good luck,[B] by having it cut to a proper size and shape, and a gold or silver band put around it. This will make it a souvenir, carrying out the old idea that the magic coal should be worn upon the person to bring the coveted good fortune.
Rhymes to be enclosed in the paper with the magic coal:
Where my roots are intertwined
Lo, the magic coal you find.
Buried deep beneath the sand,
Waiting for your favored hand,
I have held it free from harm;
Take, and wear the mystic charm.
From the lightning’s deadly stroke,
From the fire it may invoke,
From all illness, pain, and strife,
May it guard thee safe through life.
Rhymes to be enclosed in bonbons tied to the roots of plantains which do not bring good luck:
Though ye seek, ye seek in vain
Fortune’s favor thus to gain,
For I bring to you no coal
To write your name on Fortune’s roll.
—————
Pity ’tis you thought it best
To pick out me from all the rest,
For no root of mine comes near
The coal that brings good fortune here.
—————
Chance capricious, captures choice;
Fickle Fortune favors few;
When deaf to love, or reason’s voice,
What makes you think she’ll favor you?
—————
I am no messenger of fate,
You find this out, alas! too late;
I bring no magic coal with me,
From pains and ills to set you free.
Any bright girl can scribble off little jingles of this sort that will do very well for the plantain test, or appropriate quotations may be selected for the purpose.
Fortune’s Wheel.
Just where Fortune will fail each member of the company present is discovered in the following game:
The entire party forms into a circle, standing about two feet apart; then a wheel or hoop is started around the inside of the ring, and kept going by each one giving it a gentle push with the hand, sending it to the person next in the circle. As the wheel goes around the players sing these lines, pronouncing a word as each player touches the wheel, as if counting out.
Fortune’s wheel we speed along
The while we sing our mystic song.
Bring happiness, fame, power, and wealth,
True love, long life, good friends, and health,
Success in music, poetry, art,
And with it all a merry heart
When the wheel drops at the feet of anyone as a gift of Fortune is being sung, or if they fail to strike it as it passes, or, striking, they send it into the centre of the ring instead of to their next neighbor, it denotes that Fortune will withhold that special gift from them, and they must leave the circle, for good luck has deserted them.
The game continues until only one player remains, and this person, who has succeeded in keeping the wheel moving, is Fortune’s favorite, and will possess all the gifts the mythical Goddess can bestow.
Starfish Portière
